My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

Rachel set the cake box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding

is so pretty,

‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing

pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you

happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a Happy

must sing the ‘Happy

her eyes

Rachel must blow out the

indicate to Julian that there was no need to go to such

lit the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not

to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet

of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that,

you!” their

faces. Just like that, the strangers

the light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first

back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body

I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that

child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s

and headed toward

apartment

slam, the door was propped open

her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like

out on business? she

explaining himself, he slid sideways into the house

“I see you’ve been getting

she took two steps

toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw

“I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

by step he approached her, forcing her back

Rachel had no idea

staggered after him and was dragged all the way to